ABS - Do you rate it?

[i1301243]

Those who own a bike with ABS, what do you think the ABS system? Can you tell when it kicks in like in a car?

I'd never buy a car without ABS now and I'm keen to get a bike with ABS next. Sifting through the barrage of "it's crap, you can brake in a shorter distance without ABS", "Rossi doesn't use ABS" and "my mate says" to get decent information is difficult.

Seen the YouTube demos, but I'm not using my bike for a one off run down a runway or deliberately locking up in a swimming pool for demonstration purposes.

Bonus points to anyone with stability control.

[sickpup]

[M.C]

If you're prone to grabbing fist fulls of front brake (Rogerborg style ) then you probably need it. I only had a bike with ABS for a couple of months, and never had it kick in, nor have I locked up on any other bike so I don't really have an opinion either way...

What I do know is I wouldn't have the combined Honda system. It was too inconsistent, sometimes on hill starts the rear brake would come on, sometimes both brakes. More worryingly under heavy braking sometimes the front would load up, sometimes the whole bike would just squat down and barely stop at all.

Combined/linked brakes aren't for me, maybe the BMW system where I believe you can use the rear brake independently would be better, but I personally like to be in control of what brakes doing what. I know that's not specifically to do with ABS but as Honda seem to be fitting C-ABS to a lot of their bikes it's something to consider.

[MCN]

Get an ABS bike. Unless you use it off road or on a track and are good you'll never even notice it when it works. You will when it malfunctions though. But not as much that it detracts too much from the principle of ABS.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[pdg]

Having hire cars with ABS and other 'aids' confirmed something for me.

I don't want it on my cars.

I'm not playing down the benefits in most situations but like tc there are those situations when it makes things worse - for me, those situations outweigh the rest of the time.

All I can do is translate that experience to a bike...

I've had a couple of 'incidents' on a bike, and a sum total of none of them could have been avoided or lessened by ABS.

You want it? Get it.
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Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[i1301243]

[pdg]

You can garner as much opinion as you like, but there is an important thing to remember - the only person who rides like you is you.

I don't ride like you, so my opinion on it wouldn't mean much.

Pup doesn't ride like you, so his opinion wouldn't mean much.

The guy in the bike shop doesn't ride (like you, if at all), so his blah blah.

You feelin' me?
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Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[Rogerborg]

[i1301243]

[monkeybiker]

[dannymassive]

Test ride a bike on dry tarmac with ABS and see just how hard you actually have to brake in order for it to kick in.

It's quite surprising how much grip your tyres do have.

That said, in the wet it could be beneficial!
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Previous Ride's - '01 Aprilia SR125 (Sold) '08 HONDA CBF600n (Sold) '96 CB500 (Sold) '01 FZS 1000 (Sold) '06 CB1300SA (Sold) '07 CB600F Hornet (Sold) - '93 Suzuki Savage LS400 (Sold) '98 Honda VTR1000 Firestorm (Sold) '05 CB600F Hornet (Sold) '01 FZS1000 Fazer (Sold) 2016 Harley Davidson Street Bob SE (Sold) '02 Kawasaki ZX9R (Sold) '98 CB600F Hornet (Sold) '04 Suzuki Bandit 1200s (Sold) '13 Yamaha FZ1-N

[Rogerborg]

[bikertomm]

If your seeing the ABS kick in on a bike then your doing it wrong.

The point is it's there to save your bacon on a wet morning if you get smidsy'd.

All in all I believe it benefits the masses for when they need it. You don't notice it or need it on 99% of rides.
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Kris]

I didn't like the weird 'release' feeling at the lever and the increased braking distance / loss of speed control when it kicked in on a Motorway junction roundabout. Yes it was slightly greasy out and I braked for the red light reasonably briskly but I certainly wasn't near the limits and felt the ABS kicked in quite prematurely.

Only happened once, mind.
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[MCN]

Don't listen to the nay sayers and pony spouters.
My 1st and 2nd BMWs were abs the two I have now are abs. The abs 'action' NEVER caused me any concern. Like the borg says, Let there be ABS.
If you're determined to have the attitude of a phannie/fukwit you can de-activate the ABS if you're a phannie. But you'll be on your own without the advantage/s of the ABS guardian angel. We're not always 100% and ABS is like a second man.

A better question may be, Who's owned a bike with ABS and how do you rate ABS? Too many cnuts haven't actually owned an ABS bike but can quite happily quote from the bike mags/forums.


There are a lot of reports and surveys on a lot of stuff bike but I've nit seen much scientific evidence that ABS is an encumbrance.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[M.C]

[pdg]

This is so out of character for me, but I'm going to broadly agree with MCN (the poster above, not the magazine).

When I say 'broadly', I do of course mean from the perspective of the masses

I ride in the wet/cold/snow more than I ride in the sun. I ride my non-abs-equipped BMW off road as well as on road. I cannot see ABS being advantageous for me.

I am a very bad demographic.
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Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[Ericck]

I personally never had ABS until my last bike (V Strom), when it came as standard.

I rode the V Strom in the same way I have rode all my other bikes and whilst I owned it the ABS never activated, either through braking or accidentally by way of road imperfections or whatever else is supposed to be able to trigger it. The fact I had ABS never really entered into my thinking.

When I bought my present bike (which does not have ABS), ABS didn't enter my mind when making my decision.

So if you are thinking of whether or not to have ABS, it is my humble opinion that the fact you are thinking about it, probably means you should have it.
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Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[.Bishbash.]

I would never have a bike with it on for racing, wouldn't suit my style.

But, I have tried it on the road, and really didn't notice it, so I would not purchase it if I was buying a new bike, nor would want it. Away with this wizardry!
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Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[MCN]

[Polarbear]

I've had it on quite a few of my bikes. TBH I'd rather it there than not but unless you grab a handful on a wet or greasy road, I doubt you will make it cut in.

Good modern tyres IMO are a more effective safety item than ABS.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[M.C]

[Rogerborg]

[goto10]

I'd never buy another bike without ABS. Even better if it had the new Bosch stability system.

Life is a compromise, there are probably some moments where I could've out-braked the ABS system, but [for me], the amount of times ABS can out-brake me far outweighs the former.

That said, if I only used a bike on warm sunny days then I doubt I'd care about it _that_ much, but riding all year around gets pretty grim and ABS is far better at emergency braking [on cold, wet greasy roads] than I am.
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'12 NC700S & '12 CB600F Hornet [Stolen by some dickless twat] Suzuki GT500 shed

[MCN]

'Out Braking tests' I have seen are usually done using a system of advanced warning. Where the brake is applied at a line or on a signal.
Which is completely irrelevant to everyday riding and braking situations.

One could argue that you ride around anticipating every moment you will need to brake but no one can maintain that level of concentration and find it enjoyable for extended or everyday riding.

The whole principle of ABS is to enable the brake to be FULLY applied to produce an acceptable level of maximum braking effect without loss of tyre adhesion regardless of rider brake modulation/skill/ level of attentiveness. (Properly punctuated or not.)
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.